SAP Solution Lead

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

Our Technology team are looking for an experienced SAP Solution Lead to join them on a permanent basis in London. Reporting to the Head of SAP SOP Purchasing and Finance, you’ll be responsible for converting complex business requirements into a robust and sustainable design that will become the blueprint for resolutions to business problems. The SAP Solution Lead will work with both the SAP Functional and Technical teams to define end-to-end processes, ensuring detailed design and implemented solutions are consistent with the overall architecture. As SAP Solution Lead, your primary focus will be on our SAP systems that sit within the Centre of Excellence (CoE), and you will collaborate with wider teams and act as a subject matter expert on various projects.

This is a highly collaborative role, and the successful candidate will be a confident relationship builder with the ability to influence decision making and bring a highly analytical and pragmatic approach to your work.

Key responsibilities:

• Partner with SAP Functional, Technical and Finance Centre of Excellence teams to develop robust architectural standards, solution patterns and strategic roadmaps for the SAP estate.
• Research, evaluate and interpret technical requirements, industry trends and SAP innovation (S/4HANA, BTP, integration frameworks) to inform architectural direction and ensure solutions remain contemporary and sustainable.
• Assess project information and business objectives to understand scope, current-state systems, data flows, and architectural priorities, ensuring any proposed solution is fully aligned with enterprise strategy.
• Define, design and document high-quality solution architecture, producing clear and comprehensive Solution Design Documents (SDDs) including functional, technical, integration and data viewpoints.
• Lead or contribute to Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) within SAP change initiatives, ensuring personal data risks are identified, assessed and mitigated.
• Work closely with Legal, Security and Data Protection teams to embed privacy-by-design principles across SAP solutions.
• Analyse technical risks, security implications and compliance considerations, advising on mitigation strategies and ensuring architectural decisions support resilience, privacy, performance and auditability.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Business Analysts and Functional Analysts to shape high-level plans, resourcing requirements, delivery timelines and cost estimates.
• Be accountable for the technical integrity, architectural coherence and end-to-end quality of SAP solutions, ensuring they meet requirements, adhere to standards and deliver value.
• Evaluate available assets such as reference architectures, integration frameworks and reusable design patterns to efficiently bridge the gap between the current landscape and target architecture.
• Assess non-functional requirements (security, performance, availability, data protection, scalability) for feasibility, testability and clear acceptance criteria.
• Create high-level architectural models and artefacts—including component, process, data-flow, integration, deployment and transitional architecture views—to guide delivery teams.
• Define and document actions required to close architectural or solution gaps, supporting business outcomes and maintaining coherence with the ERP strategic roadmap.
• Participate in design reviews, technical walkthroughs and prototype evaluations, ensuring deliverables meet agreed standards, design intent and compliance obligations.
• Collaborate closely with Development teams, Enterprise Architecture and Project Leadership to ensure architectural decisions are understood, implemented correctly and reinforced throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Champion continuous improvement and stay current with SAP technologies and enterprise IT trends, identifying opportunities that could benefit Penguin Random House operationally or strategically.

What you’ll bring:

• Knowledge of Application architecture, Design methodologies across multiple platforms.
• Experience working in complex and highly integrated application environments.
• Strong understanding of back office business processes including Customer Services, Credit Services, Accounts Payable, and core Finance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution) at all levels.
• Ability to translate technical ideas/designs to multiple audiences, including Executives.
• Thorough understanding of and experience with multiple SDLC methods.
• Team player with a proven ability to work effectively within a large, matrixed organisation.
• Ability to communicate trade-offs and transactional states with technical and business teams.

Preferred criteria:

• Be capable of making strategic business decisions, considering relevant risks, long term implications, commercial realities and manage stakeholder needs.
• Able to thrive in fast paced and high-pressure environments, finding solutions in a timely manner.
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex information and use judgement to draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Ability to work with ambiguity and use judgement to drive forward deliverables.

The salary for this opportunity is up to £95,000, depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus a generous bonus scheme and benefits. While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from the Embassy Gardens office in London 2 days per week, with a willingness to travel to our site in Frating, Colchester on occasion.